BOOKS: EVENTS

The Edinburgh Book Festival is already in full swing, so if you get jaded by Fringe plays or feel inundated by street performers, head for the leafy tranquillity of the Charlotte Square tents. For information and ticket bookings, call 0131 624 5050.

Today: Annie Proulx, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Shipping News, gives a rare appearance at 11.30am. pounds 6/pounds 4. Michael Foot will be talking about his book Dr Strangelove, I Presume at 5pm. pounds 7/pounds 5.

Mon 23: Rose Tremain gives audiences a preview of her new novel Music and Silence at 11.30am. pounds 6/pounds 4. Will Self and Andrew O'Hagan get together to discuss urban landscape in fiction at 5.30pm. pounds 7/pounds 5.

Tues 24: Geneticist Steve Jones launches his new book Almost Like a Whale at 5pm. pounds 7/pounds 5. Richard Holmes and Peter Ackroyd discuss the art of biography at 5.30pm. pounds 5/pounds 3.

Wed 25: A L Kennedy gives a reading over breakfast at 10.30am. pounds 6/pounds 4.

Thurs 26th: Ali Smith and Dilys Rose talk about the processes of writing short stories at 5.30pm. pounds 5/pounds 3. Roy Hattersley reads from a selection of his work at 6.30pm. pounds 6/pounds 4.

Fri 27: Alan Hollinghurst reads from The Spell at 1pm. pounds 6/pounds 4. Ruth Rendell gives an appearance at 7.30pm. pounds 7/pounds 5.

Sat 28: Jay McInerney reads from Model Behaviour at 11.30am. pounds 6/pounds 4. Lesley Glaister and Janice Galloway talk about the challenges of novel writing at 5.30pm. pounds 5/pounds 3.